Checkpoint Charges Two With DUI, Foils Attempted Escape

By Andrew Gorosko

During a sobriety checkpoint last weekend, town police arrested two motorists on drunken driving charges, apprehended one man who briefly escaped from them, and warned two dozen others for various motor vehicle offenses.

On the night of Saturday, July 19, and early morning hours of Sunday, July 20, eight police officers were positioned on Hawleyville Road (Route 25) at its intersection with Covered Bridge Road for the checkpoint. Police stopped an estimated 1,100 vehicles.

Police have conducted many such checkpoints during the past several years. Two more checkpoints are planned for August. At such events, police briefly interview drivers to determine if they have been drinking or using drugs.

At about 12:51 am on July 20, motorist Matthew A. Myers, 29, of Bethel, stopped at the checkpoint, police said. Police said Myers failed a series of field sobriety tests and was charged with driving under the influence. Police transported Myers to the police station, where they processed his arrest and then released him on a $100 bond at 2:35 am for an August 5 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

At about 2:05 am on July 20, motorist Timothy J. Doughty, 22, of Stratford, stopped at the checkpoint, after which he failed field sobriety tests, police said. Police charged Myers with driving under the influence and then transported him to the police station, where his arrest was processed, after which he was released at 3:15 am on a $60 bond for an August 4 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

 Earlier during the enforcement project, at about 11:18 pm on July 19, southbound motorist William Lindsay, 39, of Southbury, stopped at the checkpoint, police said. The marker plate on Lindsay’s vehicle had expired, so police made a computerized record check and learned there were pending violations against Lindsay.

Police said that when they informed Lindsay of his motor vehicle violations, he sped off southward, leaving his driver’s license behind.

Police said they found Lindsay about four minutes later at Hot Shots II, a bar on the corner of Hawleyville Road and Mt Pleasant Road. Police said they found Lindsay inside the bar, after which he ran out the back door. Following a short foot chase, he surrendered peacefully, police said.

Police said they charged Lindsay with driving under suspension, driving an unregistered vehicle, and disobeying an officer’s signal to stop. Lindsay is scheduled to appear in court August 5 to answer the charges.

Besides the two motorists charged with drunken driving and the driver who attempted to escape, police issued one driver a motor vehicle infraction, handed out four written warnings and issued 20 verbal warning for various motor vehicle offenses, according to Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

Federal Highway Safety Program grant money is covering 75 percent of the overtime costs of town sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols for drunken driving enforcement. The grant money would cover $11,775 of the $15,700 anticipated costs for the enforcement program.